Oxford retail centre gets green light for £60m redevelopment

Planning permission has been granted for a half-a-century-old Oxford retail centre to undergo redevelopment.

NewRiver intends to develop 226 flats, restaurants and a hotel at Cowley’s Templar Square. One block of flats would comprise 15 storeys. A report from the council said that tower would be the largest the city has seen in years.

The report added that investing in a worn out 1960s retail centre would result in further regeneration for Oxford.

The plan includes demolishment of a bridge and car park to make room for the flats, but existing shops would go untouched. A Travelodge would also occupy space in the tower, including 69 flats.

Of the development’s 226 flats, almost a quarter (23%) would be available at a price considered too low for local council policy.

NewRiver’s commercial development director James Whitfield said that the firm had worked closely with the community in developing the plans. He added that the organisation is happy to work with locals in a bid to minimise any disruption during the construction phase.

The next phase would be informing the community of the development, whether it be the flats or the more commercial aspect such as the hotel and restaurants. Such a marketing plan would include the whole package from the ground up, from logo design to promotional products.